Pipe racker



July 21, 1942.

C. W. PERKINS, JR

PIPE HACKER Filed Jun 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Czar/es MP? r1572 e fr.

July 21, 1942.

C. W. PERKINS, JR

PIPE RACKER Filed June 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ""Illll lla I )IIIIII'IILM I Emu I. I-

Patented July 21 i942 STATES Claims. This invention relates to oil well apparatus and pertains particularly to mechanism for facilitating the racking and unracking of pipe sections or stands of drill pipe.

In the drilling of oil Wells, derrick men are em ployed for racking up sections'or stands of drill pipe as .the pipe is removed from the well and, according to present practice, the derrick man who is stationed high up in the derrick is required to step from the fourble board on which he stands onto the spacing fingers of the pipe rack to guide the pipe section into position by hand.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism to facilitate the racking of pipe without requiring the derrick man to move from his position on the fourble board or platform, thereby removing the present hazard for the derrick man and enabling him to rack up the pipe with considerably less efiort and more clamp-Fig. 9 being taken on section line 99 of rapidly than is possible at the present time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism adapted to be mounted upon the derrick man's platform or fourble board which can be advanced across the derrick to engage the upper end. of the pipe section to be racked and moved laterally to swing the pipe section into.

position between any selected pair of the fingers forming the rack mechanism, such action being accomplished automatically by the employment of a fluid under pressure such as steam or the like,

Another object is to provide a pipe racker having a novel telescoping construction with novel means connected with one of the telescoping sections of the racker for holding the upper end of the pipe until the same is placed in the rack and for automatically releasing the pipe after the same has been racked.

Still another object is to provide in a pipe racker mechanism a novel means for effecting desired movements of a pipe engaging arm by which the placement of the pipe in the rack is effected. I

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in horizontal section through the upper part of a derrick looking down upon p an the pipe section engaging and handling I mechanism or racker embodying the present invention.

partly in longitudinal section of the racker shown in Fig. 2, with portions of the control fluid pipe broken away.

10 Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 3-6 of Fig, 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the steam control valve taken perpendicular to the axis of the valve plug.

15 Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a split gland collar.

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view showing the fluid exhaust ports for the tubular piston rods and for the piston cylinder.

Figs. 8 to 10 are detailed views of the cable Referring nowmore particularly to the draw- 3 ings, Fig. 1 shows the four corner posts or legs I of aderrick in transverse section above the derrick man's platform or fourble board 2. The numeral 3 designates the pipe rack which is conventionally illustrated as comprising a beam 4 having spaced parallel fingers 5 between which pipe sections are stacked as the same are broken apart in withdrawing the drill pipe from the well.

The pipe racker here shown in top planview and indicated generally by the reference character R is disposed at the right-hand side or end of the fourble board slightly inwardly or to the left of the ends of the rack fingers 5, and it is also placed far enough back from the forward edge of the fourbleboard or platform to have the forward end of the racker substantially flush with the front edge of the platform.

40 The racker comprises a cylinder 6 which is closed at its rear end by the head plate I through the center of which is extended a nipple 8 to which is connected a steam pipe line 9 through which steam or other operating fluid under suitable pressure may be conducted to the rear end of the cylinder for the extension .of the pistons androds hereinafter described. a

At the rear end of the cylinder 6, there is secured the pivot plate 6' which rests upon a turntable I0, which is supported by legs it from the platform 2 and extending from the center of the plate 6' is a pivot pin l2, which passes through an opening I3 formed centrally through the table it. This pin i2 carries the nut it bethe fourble board and pipe rack, showing in top tween which and the under side of the table is interposed a spring l5 which encircles the pivot pin and maintains the plate 6' firmly-in position on the turntable. The table I0 is provided with a concentric arcuate guide slot |6 in which is engaged a movement limiting pin |1 carried by the plate 6' and by which the rotation of the racker is maintained within desired limits.

Adjacent the forward end of the cylinder there is secured to the under side thereof the longitudinally extensible swivel leg 18 which upon its lower end carries a wheel l9 which rests upon the fourble board. By means of this leg and the pivotal coupling between the rear end of the cylinder and the board, the racker is rotatable for directing the forward end thereof towardthe center of the derrick or toward the pipe rack 3, as may be desired.

Rearwardly of the pivotal support' for the racker, a ring 20 is connected with the cylinder to which is attached an end of a safety cable 2|, the other end of which is secured to the adjacent leg I of the derrick. At the rear end of the cylinder 6 there is located a petcock 22 for the purpose of draining condensate from the cylinder.

Within the cylinder are located the three concentric pistons 23, 24 and 25, the pistons 23 and 24 being hollow, as shown in Fig. 3, while the center piston 25 is of solid construction. Connected respectively to the pistons 23, 24 and 25 are the tubular piston rods 26 and 21 and the solid rod 28. At the forward end of the cylinder there is fitted around the piston rod 26, a packing gland 29 which extends into the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 3, and extending into the tubular piston rods 26 and 21 are similar packing glands 30 and 3| which respectively encircle the pistons 21 and 28.

' Each of these packing glands is preferably ofthe same construction, which construction is shown particularly in Fig. 6, where it will be seen that the gland indicated generally by the character G comprises two plate sections 32 adapted to be brought into overlapping relation to form a single gland collar, each of the sections carrying a semicylindrical sleeve portion 33, which portions flt together to form a complete sleeve. These collar portions 32 are connected by bolts 34 which are attached to the tubular bodies into which the gland sleeves extend, as is shown in Fig. 3.

In the rear end of the cylinder is a steam chest 35 into which the steam or other propulsive flu id is introduced from the pipe 9 and in this chest there is located a buffer spring 36 against which the piston assembly abuts when the pistons are retracted. As shown, the pistons are of greater overall diameter than the rods to which they are attached and, consequently, there are formed between the pistons and between the outer piston and the cylinder, the fluid chambers 31 into which the propulsive fluid enters when the pistons and rods are retracted into the cylinder. Each of the piston rods is preferably provided with a flattened area extending lengthwise thereof. as indicated by the numeral 33 which engages a correspondingly flattened portion of the encircling gland sleeve, as indicated at 39 in Fig. 6, to prevent the pistons from turning on their long axes and getting the fluid inlet and exhaust ports shown in Fig. '1, out of alinement and also for preventing the pipe engaging arm and other parts from being turned from operative position. As shown in Fig. '1, the tubular piston rods 26 and 21 have formed therethrough the fluid ports 40 and the cylinder at its forward end has is connected the steam or pressure fluid conducting pipe 42. i

Inwardly 'of the ports 40 and 4| there are formed upon the inner surface of the cylinder and the tubular piston rods the stops 43 which are engaged by the pistons to limit the outward movement of the rods and to prevent the pistons from moving to positions where they would close the ports 40 or 4|.

Upon the top of the cylinder adjacent the forward end there is mounted ,a steam or fluid pressure operated turbine T upon the shaft 44 of which is mounted a cable drum 45. An inlet pipe for the turbine is indicated at 46 and the numeral 41 designates an outlet pipe. The inlet pipe 46 and the pipe 9 are connected-with oppositely alined arms 48 and 49, respectively, of a four-way valve V, which has the alined arms 50 and 5| extending at right angles to the arms 48 and 49, as shown in Fig. 5. With one of the last-mentioned arms, here shown as the arm 5| of the valve, there is connected an inlet pipe 52 which is in turn connected through suitable swivel couplings 53 and a flexible pipe 54 between the couplings, with a supply pipe 55 which is preferably run along the inner side of the derrick leg nearest the racker, as shown in Fig. 1. The valve V has a. rotary plug 56 which is provided with two passageways 51, as shown whereby the pipes 9 and 46 may be alternately coupled with the fluid inlet line 52 and with the exhaust 51 which is here shown as connected with the arm 50 of the valve.

The fluid inlet cylinder is connected by the by-pass pipe line 58 with the turbine supply pipe 46 and in this bypass pipe is a check valve 59 which opens away from the pipe 42. The outlet' pipe 41 of the turbine is connected through the check valve 60 with the by-pass pipe 58 between the pipe 42 and the check valve 59 and the check valve 60 permits fluid to flow from the turbine only toward the by-pass pipe 58.

The stem 56 of the valve is indicated by the numeral 6| and carries a lever 62. Connected with this lever is one end of a link 63, the other end of 'which is pivotally attached to a control lever 64 which, as shown, is pivotally attached at 65 to the adjacent side of the cylinder. This control lever not only operates the valve but also controls a cable brake hereinafter described.

Upon theforward end of the piston rod 28 is a head 66 which has formed transversely therethrough a suitable opening which is constantly a fluid port 4| formed therethrough'with which horizontally directed to receive a pipe arm 61 which has the end nearest the rack 3 turned to form the angled finger 68. Formed through the head 66 at right angles to the arm 61 is a slot 69, the length of which is lengthwise of the head. This slot has extended therethrough a pin 10 which passes through one of several adjustment apertures 1| which are formed through the arm 61 and which carries an eye 12 upon its upper end. By the provision of these apertures 1 I, the arm 61 may be adjusted lengthwise transversely of the head so that the finger 68 may be suitably spaced from the head to handle pipes of different diameters.

Extending downwardly from the forward end of the piston rod 28 is a stem 13 to which is connected one end of a contractile spring 14, the other end ofwhich is connected to the lower end of the pin 10, as shown in Fig. 3, and constantly tends to oscillate the pin for the rotation of the arm 61 in a direction to swing the finger 68 for- 42 for the forward end of the.

the spring it is counteracted by a cable 85 which is i attached to the eye 72 and which extends rearwardly to and is wrapped around the drum d5.

Forwardly of the drum there is located upon the cylinder 5, a cable clamp or brake indicated generally by the character B and shown in detail in Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive. This brake comprises a fixed block it which-has intermediate its ends the transverse recess ll which is directed transversely of the cylinder. Disposed over this block is a cap it which at one end has the transversely directed cars it which are disposed across the end faces of the block and are pivotally attached thereto by the pivot pins 86, so that the cap may rock over the block on an axis extending lengthwise thereof. At the opposite side of the block from the hinge or pivot ears it, the cap has a downturned wall 8! which is provided with a vertical slot 82 adjacent each end through which passes a movement limiting pin i323 .hich is secured in-the block it. Upon the top of the cap it there is formed the longitudinally arcuate cam rib M, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Disposed beneath the cap and between the same and the block it is a brake shoe 85 which has formed transversely of its under side substantially midway between its ends, the cam rib $6 which is disposed in the recess ll of the block and is'located directly beneath the cam rib 8B of the cap. Between the top of the shoe $521111 the cap are located one or more springs 8i which normally urge the cap upwardly from the shoe- The cable F passes lengthwise of and between the cap it and the shoe 85 and consequently it will be seen that when the shoe and cap are forced together, the cable will be gripped between them.

The means for effecting relative movement between the brake cap and shoe comprises a pair of arms 88 which are secured in spaced parallel relation to the control lever 6 and. one of which extends through the opening ll of the brake block to lie between the cam rib 86 while the other one extends across the top of the cap to lie across and adjacent to the cam rib 84). Upon oscillation of the lever 65 to an inclined position either forwardly or rearwardly, the brake control arms 88 will be moved away from the cam ribs 85-86 so as to loosen the grip of the brake upon the cable and upon movement of the lever to vertical position, it will be seen that the arms in riding against the inclined cam ribs adjacent thereto will force the brake shoe and cap together so as to grip the cable it.

In the operation of the racker, when the derrick man wishes to place a stand of pipe in the pipe rack, the stand is placed directly infront of the pipe rest arm 67 and the control lever St is then moved forward. This turns the four-way valve V to opened position so as to admit steam or other fluid pressure through the pipe 9 into the real-end of the cylinder to effect the movement forwardly or outwardly of the pistons. The air in front of the pistons is forced out through the port 4! to the pipe 42 and by-passed around the turbine T through the pipe 58 to prevent the 7 cable drum 35 from reeling off an excess of cable.

When the desired position is reached for placing the stand of pipe in the rack, the control lever is pulled back to a vertical position where the brake arms 88 will relatively shift the cap 18 and the shoe 85 to grip the cable which, as previously stated, has its forward end attached to the pin '10. The four-way valve is constructed so that when the control lever St is in this intermediate or vertical position, the valve will not be completely shut off or closed but a slight amount of pressure will still be maintained against the rear ends of the pistons. This will result in a continuing slight forward movement of the pipe rest arm 61 while the cable 75 will be held back with the result that. the arm 6! will be rocked or rotated so as to raise the finger end 58 to a vertical position. The stand of pipe, having been moved or having had its upper end shifted to the desired position with respect to the fingers 5 of the rack, can then be moved or shifted intoposition between a pair of fingers. This is accomplished by pivoting the racl-rer around the pivot pin it to force'the upper end of the pipe over into position in the rack. After the pipe has been shifted into the desired position, the .racker may then be swung back on its pivot to the parallel position in which it is shown in Fig; 1. The control lever is then pulled rearwardly so that the brake will be released from engagement with the cable "it and at the same time the valve will be reversely opened to admit ti 1e operating fluid through the turbine 'to the inlet ti leading into the front end of the cylinder so as to efiect the retraction of the pistons. As the steam or other fluid pressure passes through the turbine, the cable drum isrotated in a direction to wind the cable thereon, so that the slack of the cable will be properly taken up as the head 66 is retracted by the telescoping of the piston rods into the cylinder. It will be readily understood that in this retraction of the piston rods, the steam will first enter the cylinder and exert its power against the piston 23 to retract first the rod 25.. When the port Q0 of the tubular rod 26 moves in past the packing gland in the outer end of the cylinder, it will be opened so that steam or other fluid will be admitted into the space Sl'between the rods 26 and 27 and; consequently, the second or inner tubular rod will be retracted. When this second rod is fully retracted, the port M in the wall thereof will move in past the packing gland in the forward end of the outer tubular rod 26, and thus the pressurefluld will be admitted into'the space between the inner tubular rod and the solid rod 28 so as to effect the retraction of this central rod to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, with the result that all of the rods will be drawn into the cylinder.

When the derrick man wishes to remove a stand of pipe fromthe pipe rack, the piston rods are advanced in themanner previously stated and the racking machine is then swung or oscillated to the right until the arm 67 reaches the stand of pipe which is to be withdrawn. When the pipe rest arm 61 is directly behind thestand of pipe selected, the control lever 64 is given a slight rearward movement so as to release the brake and effect the. complete closing of the valve. As soon as the brake is released, the spring 16 will function to turn the arm 61 so as to swing the-finger 68 down across the side of the stand of drill pipe. The machine is then turned or swung to the left so as to bring the pipe out of the rack and when it is clear of the rack, the piston rods may be retracted in the manner previously stated, so that the stand will be free to be swung into place in the customary manner. When the pistons are moving rearwardly, the exhaust steam or spent steam will beforced out through the exhaust arm 50 of the valve.

What is ciaimedis: l. A pipe racker for operationupon the platmeans, andmeans for taliin'g inslack in said cable to maintain the same relatively taut while form of an oil derrick, comprising a cylinder, a

piston within the cylinder and having a rod extensible from one end thereof,.an arm carried by said rod and having a lateral finger arranged to cooperate with the adjacent portion of the rod for 'receiving a stand of pipe, said arm being cylinder for advancing and retracting the piston rod, and means coupled with the arm for shifting the same and the finger to said operative and inoperative positions. a

2. A tank racker adapted to be mounted upon the platform of a derrick, comprising a cylinder,

means for supporting the cylinder horizontally for oscillation on a vertical axis, a piston within the cylinder having a rod extending from an end thereof toward the interior of the derrick, a pipe engaging arm supported transversely of and by the rod for oscillation on an axis extendingtransversely of the rod, said arm being formed to receive a pipe and having an operative and an inoperative position, means for effecting the extension and retraction of the piston in the cylinder, means operatively coupled with the arm normally urging turning of the same to operative pipe receiving position, and means operatively coupled with the arm for effecting the turning of the same to inoperative pipe releasing position in opposition to the first means.

3. A pipe racker adapted to be positioned upon the platform ofa derrick adjacent a pipe receiving rack, comprising a horizontally disposed cylinder, a pivotal support adjacent the rear end-- of the cylinder between the same and the platform whereby the cylinder may be swung relatively to the rack, a wheeled support between the forward en d of the cylinder and the platform, a piston within the cylinder having a rod extend, ing from-the forward end of the cylinder, a rack engaging arm extending transversely through the forward end of the rod and oscillatable on its long axis, said arm having one end turned to form a finger for coaction with the rod in re-. ceiving a pipe, means for effecting the extension and retraction of the rod in the cylinder, resilient means operatively coupled with the arm and constantly urging the same to turn to a position in which the finger is in a forwardly extended position, and means operatively coupled with the arm for opposing the action of said resilient means to facilitate oppositely turning the arm to a position in which the finger is directed upwardly.

4. A pipe racker adapted to be mounted upon a derrick platform adjacent a pipe rack, comprising a cylinder, means for supporting the cylinder horizontally on the platform for movement relative to the rack, a piston within the cylinder having a piston rod extending from an end. of the cylinder adjacent the rack, means for admitting fluid pressure selectively into either end of the cylinder for effecting the extension and retraction 'of the rod, a shiftable pipe engaging 'element carried by'the rod at its forward end and having operative pipe engaging position and an inoperative pipe releasing position, means normally urging said element to move to said operative position, a cable operatively connected with said element to facilitate shifting the same to inoperative position against the action of said said piston is being retracted into the cylinder.

7 5. A pipe racker adapted to be mounted upon a derrick platformadiacent a, pipe rack, comprising a cylinder, means for supporting the cylinder horizontally On'the platform for movement relative to the rack, a piston within the cylinder having a piston rod extending from an end of the cylinder adjacent the rack, means for admitting fluid pressure selectively into either end of the cylinder for effecting the extension and retraction of the rod, a shiftable pipe engaging element carried by the rod at its forward end and having an operative pipe engaging position and an inoperative pipe releasing position, means normally urging said element to move to said operative position, a cable operatively connected with said element to facilitate shifting the same to inoperative position against the action of said means, a cable take-up reel supported upon the cylinder and on which said cable is wound, and means operatively coupled with said reel and actuated by said fluid pressure during the period that'the piston is being retracted into the cylinder, to take up slack in said cable.

6. A pipe racker adapted to be mounted upon the platform of a derrick adjacent a pipe rack, comprising a piston cylinder, means supporting the cylinder horizontally on the platform for movement relative to the rack, a piston within the cylinder having a rod extending from the end of the cylinder nearest the rack, an oscillatable pi; e engaging element carried by the rod and having an operative pipe engaging position and an inoperative pipe releasing position, resilient 7 means normally urging oscillation of said element to operative position, a cable operatively coupled with said element for facilitating .oscillation of the element to inoperative position in opposition to said resilient means, a rotatable drum on which the cable is taken up and paid out, a valve controlled means for selectively admitting fluid pressure to the ends of the cylinder for the extension and retraction of the piston rod, mechanism operatively coupled with said drum designed to be actuated by the said fluid pressure upon the adjustmentof said valve to effect the retraction of the piston rod, for effecting the taking up of the cable on the drum, and a brake mechanism for gripping said cable for oscillating said element to said inoperative position.

'7. A pipe racker adapted to be positioned on a derrick platform adjacent a pipe rack, comprising a cylinder, means for supporting the cylinder on the platform for movement relative to the rack, a piston in the cylinder having a rod extending from an end of the cylinder adjacent the rack, means for admitting fluid pressure into the ends of the cylinder, an oscillatable pipe engaging element carried by the rod and having an operative pipe engaging position and an inopering a branch leading into the rear end of the cylinder and a branch leading to said turbine, means for conducting fluid pressure from the turbine into the pressure admitting means at the forward end of the cylinder, 8. check valve in the line leading from theturbine to the forward end of the cylinder and opening toward the forward end of the cylinder, a by-pass line leading past said check valve from the forward end of the cylinder into the branch leading from the valve to the turbine, a check valve in said by-pass between the first by-pass and the valve and opening toward the valve, and a control means for said valve, said valve being of the four-way type.

8. A pipe racker of the character set forth in claim 7, including a brake element interposed between said drum and the pipe engaging element and adapted for selective connection with said cable tohold the same against withdrawalfrom the drum.

9. A pipe racker for use upon a derrick platform adjacent a pipe rack, comprising a cylinder, means for supporting said cylinder adjacentand having telescoping pistons at their inner ends, a solid piston rod disposed within the innermost tubular rod, and having a piston upon its inner end slidable in the innermost rod, means for admitting fluid pressure into the rear of the cylinder, means for admitting the fluid pressure for action against each of said pistons, means for admitting fluid pressure into the forward end of the cylinder, the outer one of the tubular piston rods being spaced from the wall of the cylinder and the said piston rods being spaced from one another to form fluid pressure receiving chambers, means for admitting fluid pressure into the chambers between the piston rods, valve control means for directing fluid pressure selectlvely to the'rear and forward ends of the cylinder, the said solid piston rod extending beyond the tubular piston rods, a shiftable pipe engaging element carried by the extended end of the solid rod, and means operatively coupled with said pipe engaging element facilitating shifting the same into pipe engaging and pipe releasing positions.

10. A pipe racker of the character stated, comprising a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston within the cylinder having a rod extended from one end thereof, a pipe engaging arm oscillatably supported transversely of and by the rod and having a laterally turned finger at one end, the arm having an operative position in which the finger is directed forwardly and an inoperative position in which the finger is directed upwardly,

resilient means operatively coupled with the rod 1 line leading through the turbine into the for-' ward end of the cylinder and leading into the 7 rear end of the cylinder, a four-way valve in said pipe line between the turbine and the rear end of the cylinder, a pipeline by-passing the.

, between the turbine and the forward end of the cylinder for compelling the passage of fluid pressure through the turbine into the forward end of the cylinder when the valve is set in one posi-' tion and compelling the return of fluid from the forward end of the cylinder through the by-pass line, a brake mechanism interposed between the turbine and said element and having a pair of movable members between which the cable passes, means for effecting relative movement of said movable members, and an operative coupling between said last means and said valve Y 

